Minnesota Bans Common Antibacterial Chemical

Minnesota recently went on record as the first state to ban triclosan, a chemical commonly found in antibacterial soaps and body washes. A bill signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton will take effect Jan. 1, 2017, prohibiting the use of triclosan in products "used by consumers for sanitizing or hand and body cleansing."

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FDA to Regulate E-Cigarettes

Three years after first announcing plans to do so, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated on April 24 that it would use the authority provided by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act to regulate electronic cigarettes.

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Department of Labor Strengthens Mine Worker Protections in Fight Against Black Lung

On April 23, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez announced new rules limiting the amount of coal dust that miners can be exposed to. The new standards, effective Aug. 1, are aimed at eliminating black lung disease caused by exposure to high amounts of coal dust.

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Food Industry to Americans: It's Safe to Eat (or Drink). Trust Us.

What does it mean when a food ingredient is labeled "safe"? The question seems straightforward, but the answer proves to be disorienting. Recently, the biotechnology company Senomyx, Inc. was in the news following confusion over a safety determination for one of its products.

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